MP Bill Esterson says plans to redraw constituency boundaries ar

Sefton Central Labour MP Bill Esterson said that Tory plans to redraw constituency boundaries were "dead in the water" after their government Lib Dem partners had "turned bandit".

Nick Clegg announced that the Lib Dems would consign the plans to the Parliamentary rubbish pile after he realised his party would lose eight seats as a result of the changes.

Under the Boundary Commission's latest proposals, Sefton Central would become the new constituency of Crosby and Maghull. The new constituency would include the wards of Molyneux, Sudell, Park, Manor, Blundellsands and Ravenmeols, with the inclusion of Church and Victoria wards (both are currently in Bootle constituency). The Formby ward of Harington would be cut off and placed in Southport constituency.

Bill said the plans had been drawn up with political motives and not in the interests of the communities.

Bill said: "The only reason the Liberal Democrats have decided to jettison the boundary change plans, which they signed up to as part of the Tory-Lib Dem coalition agreement, was because they did the maths and realised that they would lose seats.

"They turned bandit on the agreement with their Tory partners in their own self interest.

"All along the Labour Party have been against these proposals because they are not in the interests of the electorate.

"While the Tories have been busy gerrymandering the boundaries in their own interests, slashing the number of MPs, they have increased the number of unelected Lords by a lot more.

"Not only is this undemocratic, it sees the representation of those who most need it reduced. At a time when areas like ours are being devastated by the Tory-Lib Dem Government's slash and burn policies, it is areas like ours which are having their Parliamentary representation watered down, while the leafy shires would keep their MPs.

"It is nothing more than gerrymandering in the interests of the wealthy against the interests of the many."

Bill said the Tories had a track record of targeting Merseyside while in power.

Bill said: "We all remember what happened under Thatcher in the '80s and just what damage the Tories did to this part of the world. How whole families were thrown on the rubbish heap as unemployment rocketed.

"Well now the Tories are doing the same, but this time the Liberal Democrats are helping them do it.

"That's why I am fighting these proposals and why I will continue to do so, despite the Liberal Democrats now pledging to vote against the plans. As we all know, you can't trust the Liberal Democrats to honour their pledges."

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